A Thursday morning spent shopping at the Lakefield Farmers’ Market will make it clear just how important a role agriculture plays in Peterborough County’s economy.
Every week between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, the popular market takes over the parking lot of the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre, located in the Township of Selwyn, one of the eight townships in Peterborough County.
Now in its 16th season, the Lakefield Farmers’ Market showcases up to 25 vendors every week, bringing together products grown by local farmers, unique pieces created by talented artisans from across the region, and baked goods and meals made using regional ingredients. All of the vendors are based in Ontario, with most of them located within Peterborough County.
Shoppers at the Lakefield Farmers’ Market can be assured all the agricultural products they buy have been grown by the farmers themselves, as there are no resellers at the market. Each agriculture vendor is MyPick Verified, which means an inspector from Farmers’ Markets Ontario has confirmed the farm grows 100 per cent of the products they sell. As for the artisans, a jury of local artists determines whether the work is entirely made by the seller and gives priority to those who use local or recycled materials.
Though new vendors join the market every year, such as Mr. & Mrs. Perogie and Kawartha Lakes Flower Farm at this year’s market, many vendors return year after year given the vast customer exposure the market offers.
“It’s really rewarding as a vendor at the market to hear people are choosing to spend their money here,” says Jennie MacKenzie, whose small business Jen’s Home Baking has been a vendor the Lakefield Farmers’ Market since its first season in 2010. “The quality of the food and the fact they’re supporting a local producer is enough for them to make that decision.”
With its central location in the village and its proximity to Isabel Morris Park on the Otonabee River, the Lakefield Farmers’ Market also makes it easy for visitors to explore the best of the township after shopping at the market.
“It certainly makes it more attractive for people to come to town and shop at other businesses on a day when there’s a farmers’ market,” says MacKenzie, who, as the previous owner of The Lakefield Pantry, knows first-hand the benefits the market offers to local businesses.
The Lakefield Farmers’ Market is not only a place where residents can source local and regional products, but a place for local business owners to connect with each other, further strengthening the economic prosperity of Peterborough County.
Buns & Sweets in Bridgenorth, for example, sources strawberries from McLean’s Berry Farm in Buckhorn, jam from The Jam Cupboard in Selwyn, rhubarb from Cedar Grove Organic Farm in Omemee, and maple syrup from Wagner Maple Products in Dummer — all of which are also market vendors.
“The Lakefield Farmers’ Market has given me a real awareness of local food and what local producers and food producers mean to our economy,” says MacKenzie. “If you have strong, locally supported providers within your community, you can survive without the global influx of products and services.”
The Lakefield Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre. For more information and the full list of vendors, visit www.lakefieldfarmersmarket.net or follow the market on Facebook and Instagram.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
